Morning journal and courier., 1887-04-13
Mrs. Shoddy's Pictures.

I EROstOn Letter 10 the fToVluence A Mrs. Shoddy, of Boston, for even in Boston specimens of this class exist, was discoursing the other evening upon the sale of the Stewart pictures in New York. q thought of going on," she said, ito buy some of the paintings, but I really have more pictures than I know what to do with. Of course there were fine things in the Stew art sale, but my own paintings, l may gay, are really metricious-at least bought them as sueh-aud so I concluded not to compete with New York collectors"
 The dear old dowager would be astonished if she knew how true her remark was, little as she understood the true significance of her epithet. A good story is told of the way in which she bought some of her "metricious" pictures. Several years ago she went abroad and took with her specimen of the paper of her drawing room in order that she might buy pictures to harmonize-or as she said to match An American artist in Paris wrote home an account of her visit to the studio of a French artist of distinction. The lady ar rived one morning by appointment, armed with her specimen of wall paper, and stated that the architect of her house had told her to purchase picture of given size for a certain space in her drawing room. The ar
  he was clever enough to understand the sort of woman he was dealing with and unscrup- ulous enough to take advantage of her.
 stThis canvas" he said, showing her painting he wished to sell, ''isn't the same measure you want because we have the me- tric system in France, and of course that IS different; but it is that measure translated into our system It is the nearest thing you get in this country"
 The picture was half as large again as she had asked for, but she received this explana- tion in perfect good faith and proceeded to investigate the harmony of paper and pie ture. The obliging painter arranged the wall paper behind the canvas, walked away from the easel and clapped his hands in ad- miration.
 sAh, madame he said with dramatic sigh, ''you Americans such nation! have searched Paris for proper background for this picture and have not been able to find it: and here you bring me precisely the color of which I have dreamed. If 1 had that paper I would not sell you the picture at all. but now you must have it if l give 1t to you"
 And he did give u to her-in exchange for seven thousand dollars.
 At another studio she was less success full She had been told whose pictures s.cce ought to buy and applied boldly to the leading painters of Paris. The second ar tist whom she saw, however, treated her with what she feelingly describes as outra geous brutality. When she produced her specimens of wall paper the old man brusquely interrupted her setting forth of her wishes.
 ''It is of no use, madame" he said with great afectation of regret and earnest ness, "I never sell a picture on so slight grounds as mere harmony with the paper hanging. So much depends upon the light that I never risk my reputation without examining the room in which the painting is to hang. Did you bring your house with yous If you didn't I fear it is inn possible for us to come to an arrangement"